T20 World Cup 2024: I haven’t spoken a word – Hardik Pandya reveals how he bounced back after difficult phase

India’s all-rounder Hardik Pandya revealed that the last six months were difficult for him and the World Cup triumph means a lot to him. India bested South Africa by seven runs in the summit clash at the Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados on Saturday. 

Pandya was booed by the Indian crowd throughout the IPL 2024 as he could not deliver the goods while leading Mumbai Indians. However, Pandya was able to turn the tables in the T20 World Cup 2024 as he delivered with both bat and ball.

The right-hander scored 144 runs in six innings at an average of 48 and a strike rate of 151.57 in the T20I showpiece. Pandya also scalped 11 wickets in eight matches at an average of 17.36 and an economy rate of 7.61.

Meanwhile, Hardik Pandya also got the big wicket of Heinrich Klaasen with a wide slower delivery on the first ball of the 17th over in the all-important final when South Africa needed 26 off 24 balls. Pandya was then given the final over by Rohit Sharma when 16 runs were needed. The all-rounder was able to get rid of dangerous David Miller as Suryakumar Yadav took a brilliant catch at the boundary rope.

Hardik Pandya said after the win, “It means a lot. Very emotional, we’ve been working very hard and something was not clicking. But today we got what the whole nation wanted. More special for me, how my last 6 months were, I haven’t spoken a word. I knew that if I kept working hard I could shine and do what I could do. Getting an opportunity like this makes it more special. We always believed, it was just about executing our plans and staying calm and letting the pressure come to them.”

Pandya gave credit to India’s pack leader Jasprit Bumrah for getting the team back into the contest, “Credit to Jassi (Bumrah) and the other bowlers for those last 5 overs. Knew it would not help me if I wasn’t calm, wanted to commit 100% to every ball I’ve bowled. I’ve always enjoyed pressure.”

Showering praise on the team’s head coach, Rahul Dravid, Pandya said, “Very happy for him (Dravid), he’s been a wonderful man, really enjoyed working with him, to give him a farewell like this is wonderful, have had a very good relationship with him and became friends. Very happy for all the support staff.”

Pandya was able to prove his mettle and he would want to continue the good show.